Tom Ford Illuminating Highlight Pen - Review

Tom Ford in his own words:

The Illuminating Highlight Pen allows you to enhance, contour or diminish your features to create the appearance of symmetry. The range includes eight highly micronized shades: four tones that catch the light and bring focus to the cheekbones and eyes to create balance and symmetry and four tones that act as skin-priming concealers to diminish flaws and shadows. All eight tones work to soften and diffuse light for a smooth and undetectable finish.

Cost in Ireland Euro 55 for 3.2ml.  Available at Brown Thomas in Dublin

Tom Ford’s Illuminating Pen in the shade 05 Naked Bisque

I bought the Tom Ford’s Illuminating Pen in the shade 05 Naked Bisque, which I would describe as a matte ivory/nude beige shade with pink undertones, and this shade would suit most lighter to medium skin tones.  Generally speaking I don’t find the whole color selection to be great or extensive, so there are eight shades available in total, which four of them are shimmery and can be mixed with the other four matte shades for an illuminating effect.  05 Naked Bisque is one of the lightest matte shades. I find the other shades to be too dark to give any illuminating effect, and this was the reason why I bought the pen in a first place, but they would be great for color correcting, especially if you have dark under eye circles.

The texture is quite thick and pigmented but yet smooth, and it goes on very evenly, almost invisible. As mentioned before, it is quite matte, with a slight sheen, and it does slightly brighten the skin, but if you're looking for lots of shimmer or need loads of coverage and concealing, this products won’t do it.

 One thing I like about this pen is that is does photograph beautifully, and I have used it few times in my recent photo shoots, the only problem is that the price is unfortunately not makeup kit friendly.

It comes in a thicker than the usual pen form with the typical brush & twist up applicator to release the product.

To be perfectly honest I prefer YSL Touche éclat over this pen, because it’s more illuminating and brightening. For more coverage with illuminating effect I like and can highly recommend Mister Light by Givenchy or if you are on a tight budget try the Catrice Re-Touch Light-Reflecting Concealer.

Overall, for 55 Euro I really expected this to be amazing product, I wanted it to be all singing and dancing Illuminating Pen, but it just didn’t cut it for me and I am afraid I won’t be repurchasing. I am not saying that this is the worst product I have ever tried, as it might be perfect for someone else, but given the price, I just expected it to be better.

Have you tried Tom Fords Illuminating pen? What do you think? Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

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Bobbi Brown Metalic Eyeshadows - Review

Bobbi Brown’s Metallic eyeshadows are very pigmented and a more shimmery than her Shimmer Wash shadows.  While they are called metallic it is actually a beautiful vevety texture with soft fine shimmer and not gritty at all.  The eyeshadows are very pigmented, so you don't need a lot of product to get rich color. The shades are very flattering skin tone flattering and last all day with proper application there's very little fading or creasing. The one thing I like about Metallic eyeshadows most is that they also can be used wet, and this will give more intensive pigmentation and slightly different color effect.

They are sold as single pans, but you could also pop them into your own custom palette. Although they are expensive, they will last you a long, long time.

Price in Ireland € 24.00 for 2,5g.

Check also my latest YouTube video featuring my favorite Bobbi Brown Eyeshadows. 

Bobbi Brown Metalic Eyeshadows  first row from left to right: Cognac, Velvet Plum, Burnt Sugar, second row from left to right: Midnight, Sage, Mint, Lavender.

Eyeshadow: Cognac, Eyeliner: MAC in Smolder, Blush: Bobbi Brown Blush in Apricot, Lips: Pink Songe

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Cognac

Cognac is a shimmery rich chocolate brown with red undertones. It’s very pigmented and not too shimmery.  It is quite an unusual shade, which would look amazing on brown or green eyes.

Eyeshadow:Burnt Sugar, Blush:Make Up For Ever in (8) PDA and  Bare Minerals Face Color in Warmth, Lips: Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Washed Seashell

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Burnt sugar

Burnt Sugar is a  medium golden bronze with yellow undertones with subtle shimmer.  It’s is very similar to  Urban Decay Eyeshadows in Smog and Twice baked.  This shade looks amazing on green and blue eyes.

Eyeshadow: Mint,  Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Eyliner in Midnight Cowboy, Blush: Bobbi Brown Blush in Blushed, Lips: Barry M Paint in (121) Pillar Box Red

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Mint

Min is a very light pastel green and it’s almost sheer in appearance, in fact it’s so sheer that you can’t see it hardly at all.  I usually wear it with navy or purple eyeliner combined with loads of black mascara.

Eyeshadow: Lavender,  Blush: Bobbi Brown Blush in Apricot Lips: Dylan Bradshaw Lip Gel in red

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Lavender

Laveder is very light purple with cool pink undertones.  Again very sheer color and your really have to wear it with strong base in order for it to show up, other than that great it’s a great  spring shade.

Eyeshadow: Midnight, Blush and Lips: Bobbi Brown in Nude Peach,

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Midnight  

Midnight is a shimmery deep dark smoky blue, almost black. Great shade for a dark blue smoky eye.

Eyeshadow: Sage, Blush: Bobbi Brown Blush in Flame,  Lips: YSL Rouge Volupte in Red Muse

Bobbi Brown  Metallic Eyeshadow in Sage

Sage is a medium olive-tone green with golden undertones. She told me to wear Bone under the browbone, Sage on the lid and Tan in the Crease. Great shade for hazel eyes.

Eyeshadow: Velvet Plum, Blush: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink and Bobbi Brown in Nude Peach, Lips: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink

Bobbi Brown  Metallic Eyeshadow in Velvet plum

 Velvet plum is shimmery plumy brown taupe with a touch of bronze. Another great color for a smokey eye.

Have you tried Bobbi Brown’s Metallic Eyeshadows? Did you like them? What is your favorite shade? Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

CHANEL Soleil Tan de CHANEL - Review

CHANEL Soleil Tan de CHANEL is one of my all time favorite bronzing products of all the time. This bronzer gives me a nice sun-kissed glow without the ugly, ashy powdery finish like some bronzers do.

It looks almost orange in the jar, but when applied to the skin, it gives a beautiful caramel toned highlight to the cheeks; it just makes me look perfectly fresh, like I have been out in the sun for the day.

The packaging is a shatterproof plastic jar which can be bit too large for traveling or to carry around as it takes to much space in a cosmetic bag.

The texture of this matte cream base is very lightweight and airy, almost like a mousse and goes on smooth and blends easily without streaks. Little goes long way, so  you need very little product, therefore the jar lasts forever.

Unfortunately,  it doesn't come with anything to apply it with, no sponge or no brush, so I use my kabuki brush, swirl in the container, buff the excess on the back of my hand, and apply it under my cheekbones and around the outside of my face for a light contour. Keep in mind that it builds up easily, so start very light since  it can get very intense quickly.

The only downside is that it's has a harder surface so most likely some bristles of your brush will get stuck in it, so it can be bit unhygienic.

 Cost in Ireland € 39.00 for 30 g.

All I can say is, this is a must have in every women’s handbag, so save up ladies and buy this bronzer ...you won't regret it!

Check out my latest video where I you can see how to apply the  Soleil Tan de CHANEL: 

Have you ever tried CHANEL Soleil Tan de CHANEL? Did you like it?  Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

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Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation vs Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation Serum vs CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua

These two foundations have been compared to the famous CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua quite a bit, so I decided to try them myself. Bourjois and CHANEL are actually the same company, so the Bourjois products could be in reality a high-end product sold at a high street price tag. Let’s see then, here are my observations.



Wearing Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in Shade 52

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in a nutshell

·         fresh fruity scent

·         contains apricot, apple, melon and ginger extracts

·         glass bottle with a dispensing pump

·         no SPF

Coverage

·         medium buildable coverage and gives a natural semi-matte  but still radiant finish,  

Texture

·         Thick and creamy consistency

·         Doesn’t dry to quickly and leaves loads of time for blending

Shade Selection

·         Available in 6 Shades, with  more color choices  for paler than for darker complexions

Price

·         €14.95 for 30ml here in Ireland.

Wearing Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation Serum in Shade 52

Bourjouis Healthy Mix  Foundation Serum in a nutshell

·         same fruity scent  as the Healthy Mix Foundation

·          contains lychee, pomegranate and goji berries extracts

·         Plastic bottle with a dispensing pump, travel friendly

·         No SPF

Coverage

·         light-to-medium coverage and has a more luminous, dewy finish.

·         Evens out skin tone and  brightens tired skin

·         semi-matte, dewy finish

Texture

·         Oil Free gel texture,slightly runny

·         blends easily

Shade Selection

·         Available in 8 Shades,  and again with  more color choices  for pale skin than for darker complexions

Price

·         €14.95 for 30ml here in Ireland.

In this video you can also see what the foundation looks like applied. 



Wearing CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua in Shade B20

CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua in a nutshell

·         Classic Floral powdery  Chanel scent

·         Travel friendly light packaging, but  doesn’t have the  luxurious feel  other Chanel products

·         Only a smallest amount needed to cover the whole face

·          SPF 15

Coverage

·         sheer  light to medium coverage with a illuminating satin finish

·         perfect balance between matte and luminous radiance.

·         lasts on my skin for a about 8 hours

Texture

·         water based foundation

·         airy, whipped,cooling  texture

·         hydrating feel  on the skin

·         blends easily

·         oil-free and non-comedogenic

Shade Selection

·         Available in 10 Shades,   I found that the darker shades start to pull a little orange on the skin or they did on mine anyway. I generally prefer yellow undertone foundation since it counteracts the redness in pinker skin tones.

Price

·         €39.00 for 30ml here in Ireland.

Bourjois  Healthy Mix  Foundation in Shades 51 and 52/ Bourjois Healthy Mix  Foundation Serum in Shades 51 and 52/CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua in Shades B20 and B30

So the bottom line

In my mind the CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua  is superior to Healthy Mix Foundation  and Healthy Mix Foundation Serum  in the way that it gives such perfect base,  but doesn’t look like I’m wearing makeup.
If you want something that doesn’t mask your whole face and only evens out your skin tone as a tinted moisturizer would do, and you don’t mind the price tag, then this a foundation for you.

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum comes in the second place and provides slightly more coverage and gives still refined, fresh, and flawless look. I also have used this foundation on photo shoots when  I wanted to achieve that fresh faced, dewy, flawless skin on models or more  mature skin. I also found it to be a great foundation for those with oily to combination skin. I would not go so far and say that this is the same thing as the CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua, but in its performance it is definitely similar.

If you need more coverage, I would definitely go for the Healthy Mix Foundation, as it provides medium coverage, covering redness, minor thread veins and dark spots, but it still feels light and natural on the skin.

But at the end of the day, I think all 3 of them are great foundations on its own, so if you are still in two minds, which one to get, then I would suggest you get some samples and try it out.

Have you tried any of these foundations?  What are your thoughts on it? Let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina